A social worker accused of murdering a police officer and chopping up his body has appeared in court.

Stefano Brizzi, 50, is charged with murdering 59-year-old Gordon Semple in London after meeting him on a dating app.

The Inverness-born Met Police officer was reported missing by his partner when he failed to return home from work on April 1.

Brizzi was arrested at his flat on the Peabody Estate in south London, where Mr Semple's remains were found.

He is accused of murdering Mr Semple at some point during the six-day period and appeared via videolink at the Old Bailey from maximum security Belmarsh jail on Wednesday,

Wearing a grey tracksuit and aviator sunglasses, Brizzi spoke only to confirm his name.

He was not required to enter a plea and a provisional trial date has been fixed for October 18.

Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, the recorder of London, said: "Thank you Mr Brizzi, that's all. Thank you."

Mr Semple went missing after leaving a meeting at the five-star Shangri La hotel in The Shard skyscraper.

CCTV cameras then picked him up nearly three hours hours later in nearby Great Guildford Street.

Mr Semple, who was an antisocial behaviour officer with Westminster City Council, lived with his partner Gary Meeks, 49, in Kent.

Brizzi is believed to have studied at the University of Florence, in Firenze, Italy before moving to London in 2010.